Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-05-13


BREID AND BC77'ER 1ND
HONEI.
When the Armstrong; rode over 10 Hol
ton that afternoon aud left Alice alone in
the house, they had mo- idea that there could
be any danger for her Alice was their
little only daughter, and, rather than not
leave her in perfect safety they would have
stayed away from Bolton forever.
To be- sure the house was "a good half
mile away from any other house, and was
"a very nice Que Of its kind 1t was large
and well kept, with u broad piazza all
around it. and two bay windows and had
"a general air OF prosperity. Any one see
ing the house here on this country ruad,
where nice houses were not plentiful, would
have thought that we'll tn do people lived IN
It. and 1t was probably well furnished with
nice things However. no one 50 far had
thought su To- the detrimrnt Of either house
or people. Tramp, and burglar, were sci
dom heard Of in thi, peaceful part of the
country, aud the Armstrong; had lived
here twenty five years aud never once been
molc-tcd 80 they never thought of such IA
thing today They did not even tell Alice
10 lock the doors. once, years before, IA
stragpl,r had come along, and Mrs Arms
strong had given him something to eat but
he was quite iuultrusivr and that was sH
hong ago she had nearly forgotten IT, such
thing as strag,lcr never entered hcr
mind now the chief topic pl discussion
when they came 10 start was Alice
luncheon
1t might have been bad plan, but Tia,
little girl had always plain bread and but
ter lunch between meals. Today. however
she had an idea that she mrritcd something
a little extra To pay her for her lonely al
/ ternoun, and disappointment. Alice herself
wanted very much Ia 20 to Bolton with hei
| father and mother, but she had cold, AN,
| it was thought not prudent.
/ Mother, said she. when her mother wa
/ putting un her bonnet what can ] have
/ for lunch e
why, what you always have, said Mr.,
Armstrong. You can spread Yourself .
| slice Of bread and butter
There was little of-that honey left,
murmurcd Alice blushing
Her mother laughed.
Il never saw such "a child a. YOU are To-
! honey ." said she You ought to turn int.
a bee Yourself Yes | don't care. All Is
/ if you have it this afternoon you won
have 1t for tea.
ia rather have it this afternoon, sai'
| Alice joyfuily.
She stool at the window and watched he
parents drive out of sight down the road
She was "a slender little girl, with a pretty
serious face and smooth brown hair. Nhel
she finally left the window, and locke
about the vacant room, 1t seemed 10 her tina
the checked licked about twice IA loud a
she had ever heard it, However, she Wa
~ I La 8
tribe lonesome She got out her Sunda
school book, and sat down IN her little rock
ng-chuir and read awhile then she got he
box Of water color, and painted, she ha
made up her mind that she would not ea
her lunch until three o'clock, when he
father and mother would have been gom
about two hours 1t was quarter Of tire
when she got tired Of her paints. She pa
them away and washed her hands, and sa
down at the window to wait until the clocI
struck She began to feel quite hungry
and thought pleasantly Of the honey.
She had only about three minutes louge
to wait, when she saw man coming dow
the road
"Why, | wonder who that is ' said sh,
She watched him interestedly rs long a
she could see him then there was shut
fling step in the drive and a shadow stretcl
ed past the window the man hhd come II
to the yard.
He gave quick glance at Alice in tn
window, then lie stepped up Oh the plazz
and knocked ON the SIDE door. Alce Wen
promptly When she opened inc dooi
there stood the man, shabby and ragged
with stubbly white beard. 1t was 40 on
she had ever seen before
Have you got an old coat you could Il
me have said he. lie looked past her II
to the house as he spoke
Il don know, said Alice. Il m all alon
here tins afternoon. Father ana m"tht
are gone away. Maybe II you come agan
when they re home, they'd give You one
I'm real sorry.
She was honestly sorry she thousht
herself that the poor old man needed cot
drradiully the sleeves oil ms huhs
shreds, and there was a real fringe oil rag
around the bottom
Can't You give me something 10 eat
said the man.
ION, yes, sir, SAID She, eagerly. i CA
get you som, thing to eat.
She showed mm INTO the dining room, an
placed char for him with the greate'
politeness'
Please slt down, aalu sht, sMectll
''and I'll get something for you.
There was a pretty black walnut sid
board in the dining room, and upon 1t stoo
the spoonholder' full OF silver spoons
soon as Alice had left the room the strange
rose and tiptoed softly over to the spo9n
However, he was in his chair, where St
had left him, when she returned She ho
in one hand a plate, with three slices
very nicely spread bread and butter, ana
the other a little tumbler with perhaps lo'
spooniuls of honey in 1t. She looked hes
tatingly at the man, then at the honey,
I've got some bread and butter FOR you
said she, in her gentle little voice but
didn't know-do you ike honey
Yes said the man, with a kind